The Cannabis Law Flip-Flop

[ABCDBKK]

If Thailand is really going to flip-flop on the law (after already delisting cannabis as an illegal narcotic) and eventually start fining and jailing people for recreational use, especially tourists, then they are going to find themselves awkwardly bucking the growing trend in Western countries where decriminalizing of cannabis for recreational use continues to grow. 
 

Even Germany, seen as a relatively conservative country, is likely to legalize cannabis for recreational use within this year: 

 

https://www.dw.com/en/german-minister-aims-for-cannabis-legalization-by-spring/a-68042155

 

In addition to the 23 states in the US that have already legalized cannabis for recreational use (including Washington DC), 8 more are also expected to legalize it within this year. 
 

If Thailand does end up making serious changes to the current laws then the blowback and lawsuits against the government from both growers and retailers losing income (those who invested based on previous government promises) could be sizable. I can see a situation where some ambiguous changes are eventually made to the laws to try and reduce recreational use and then everything gets backpedalled again a year later to exactly the way things are right now. 

[Trippy]

Thai govt does a lot of talking, but very little action. Nothing will change except maybe getting a DR's script, which will be cheap and very easy to get.

 

I went to this one dispensary in Bangkok, right at the start of this cannabis boom when the only thing they sold was THC oil, and the DR's prescription was copied and free to all customers. 

Edited January 22 by Trippy

[Hokeus]

16 minutes ago, Trippy said:

Thai govt does a lot of talking, but very little action. Nothing will change except maybe getting a DR's script, which will be cheap and very easy to get.

 

I went to this one dispensary in Bangkok, right at the start of this cannabis boom when the only thing they sold was THC oil, and the DR's prescription was copied and free to all customers. 

A doctor's prescription sounds like a very possible future requirement. And, as you said, it will be something very easy for most everyone to obtain.
 

But what we don't know is if people (who qualify to use cannabis for medical purposes) will also be required to only obtain their cannabis in the form of oils produced by the government and distributed by a hospital pharmacy. If the government does intend to really make "medical use only" a serious requirement then it could end up going in a more controlled direction to where flowers become fully illegal for the average person.

 

The other and more concerning gray area is, even if you have a medical certificate permitting medical use, and you are using cannabis to relax, improve mood, or reduce anxiety, the authorities could still accuse someone and fine/jail them for recreational use on the basis that they are still getting some enjoyment from the use of the cannabis. So it can become a subjective issue. 
 

Basically, any sweeping changes to the law that can impose fines and jail time for recreational use does place things on a much more slippery slope. 

[bamnutsak]

I don't think anyone knows what the MoPH/Parliament is going to do regarding Cannabis laws and controls.

 

At this point, any conjecture is a waste of time.

 

I can say that the "government" doesn't care about what may be happening in other countries re: Cannabis normalization.

[ABCDBKK]

7 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

I can say that the "government" doesn't care about what may be happening in other countries re: Cannabis normalization.

Not true and don't agree. A lot of the justification implemented by Anutin to remove cannabis from the list of illegal narcotics in Thailand, and to dress up in colorful cannabis shirts, while handing out a million plants to the public, was all based on the growing legalization of cannabis in the USA. Optics. 

[Seppius]

54 minutes ago, Trippy said:

Thai govt does a lot of talking, but very little action. Nothing will change except maybe getting a DR's script, which will be cheap and very easy to get.

 

I went to this one dispensary in Bangkok, right at the start of this cannabis boom when the only thing they sold was THC oil, and the DR's prescription was copied and free to all customers. 

Me too, in that run down mall, strong stuff it was

[Pouatchee]

7 minutes ago, ABCDBKK said:

Not true and don't agree. A lot of the justification implemented by Anutin to remove cannabis from the list of illegal narcotics in Thailand, and to dress up in colorful cannabis shirts, while handing out a million plants to the public, was all based on the growing legalization of cannabis in the USA. Optics. 

 

anutin has insiste from the beginning that the thc content should not be over 0.2% and that it should not be used for recreational purposes. i am very pro weed, but the thai gvt isnt known for its finesse in implementing laws, nor are the pigs gonna back down from enforcing their future retirement plans. dont get your hopes up

[Dogmatix]

1 hour ago, Hokeus said:

A doctor's prescription sounds like a very possible future requirement. And, as you said, it will be something very easy for most everyone to obtain.
 

But what we don't know is if people (who qualify to use cannabis for medical purposes) will also be required to only obtain their cannabis in the form of oils produced by the government and distributed by a hospital pharmacy. If the government does intend to really make "medical use only" a serious requirement then it could end up going in a more controlled direction to where flowers become fully illegal for the average person.

 

The other and more concerning gray area is, even if you have a medical certificate permitting medical use, and you are using cannabis to relax, improve mood, or reduce anxiety, the authorities could still accuse someone and fine/jail them for recreational use on the basis that they are still getting some enjoyment from the use of the cannabis. So it can become a subjective issue. 
 

Basically, any sweeping changes to the law that can impose fines and jail time for recreational use does place things on a much more slippery slope. 

  In the public hearing, one of the weed shops owners argued that someone with a prescription who took it for say back ache was able to relax after dealing with the back ache and so it could be construed as recreational use because he couldnt relax without it.

[Dogmatix]

29 minutes ago, Pouatchee said:

 

anutin has insiste from the beginning that the thc content should not be over 0.2% and that it should not be used for recreational purposes. i am very pro weed, but the thai gvt isnt known for its finesse in implementing laws, nor are the pigs gonna back down from enforcing their future retirement plans. dont get your hopes up

 

This was a smoke screen from Anutin. He kept insisting that over 0.2% would still be illegal without saying that only referred to extracts.  The majority of Thais understood that referred to everything and buds would be illegal which thinking how it would be possible for there to be any business for shops and growers like that. Newin's daughter already had a huge plantation and was talking openly about selling for recreational use.  Daddy, Anutin's boss, would not have been happy, if she wasn't able to sell all the bud she had prepared for market.

[ABCDBKK]

2 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

 

anutin has insiste from the beginning that the thc content should not be over 0.2% and that it should not be used for recreational purposes. i am very pro weed, but the thai gvt isnt known for its finesse in implementing laws, nor are the pigs gonna back down from enforcing their future retirement plans. dont get your hopes up

 

Anutin was conflicted in his message from day one. Yes, he said for medical use only. And, the law states a 0.2% rule on THC, but that only applies to extract products and obviously cannot apply to the use of flowers. 

Anutin also handed out a million plants to anyone who wanted it in 2022 and everyone in Thailand is now permitted to grow plants and flowers at home, and with no medical use restrictions and no 0.2% restriction as long as they are not selling it without a commercial license or smoking it in public places. So how can you have a medical use only restriction when everyone is already permitted to willfully grow and smoke it at home? 

In addition, Anutin was seen on television cooking shows showing the Thai population how to add cannabis to their Som Tum and other Thai food recipes. So that is him fully advocating it for recreational use at the same time. It also negates the so called 0.2% limit and contradicts his own medical use double-talk. 

 

At the 28:00 minute mark in the documentary linked below the issue about Anutin's conflicting messaging is well covered:

 

 

 

[BritManToo]

56 minutes ago, ABCDBKK said:

Anutin was conflicted in his message from day one. Yes, he said for medical use only. And, the law states a 0.2% rule on THC, but that only applies to extract products and obviously cannot apply to the use of flowers. 

 

Thais never say no, they agree with everyone but never get around to doing anything other than what they want.

 

The current laws won't change in any way (that you would notice).

[Hokeus]

3 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

 

anutin has insiste from the beginning that the thc content should not be over 0.2% and that it should not be used for recreational purposes. i am very pro weed, but the thai gvt isnt known for its finesse in implementing laws, nor are the pigs gonna back down from enforcing their future retirement plans. dont get your hopes up

 

The notion that it was the government's intention in 2022 to legalize cannabis for medical use only is a completely farce. 

 

A government doesn't fully decriminalize cannabis and, at the same time, license over 6,000 retail cannabis shops to open up across the country selling weed to any swinging d*ck unless it's your full intention to legalize it for recreational use. 

 

Thailand's economy was reeling from the pandemic, and the huge drop in tourism numbers, thus they needed something to pump some life back into the economy. 

 

So you need to look purely at what they do and not what they say. 

[NedR69]

It's the loss of revenue that will cause Thailand to continue with the current.  It ain't going to change, maybe something stupid, but it won't be any different than it is now.

[stoner]

13 hours ago, ABCDBKK said:

 

Anutin was conflicted in his message from day one. Yes, he said for medical use only. And, the law states a 0.2% rule on THC, but that only applies to extract products and obviously cannot apply to the use of flowers. 

Anutin also handed out a million plants to anyone who wanted it in 2022 and everyone in Thailand is now permitted to grow plants and flowers at home, and with no medical use restrictions and no 0.2% restriction as long as they are not selling it without a commercial license or smoking it in public places. So how can you have a medical use only restriction when everyone is already permitted to willfully grow and smoke it at home? 

In addition, Anutin was seen on television cooking shows showing the Thai population how to add cannabis to their Som Tum and other Thai food recipes. So that is him fully advocating it for recreational use at the same time. It also negates the so called 0.2% limit and contradicts his own medical use double-talk. 

 

At the 28:00 minute mark in the documentary linked below the issue about Anutin's conflicting messaging is well covered:

 

 

 

 

is kitty still fighting to charge 1234b per gram too ? 

[NextG]

17 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

 

anutin has insiste from the beginning that the thc content should not be over 0.2% and that it should not be used for recreational purposes. i am very pro weed, but the thai gvt isnt known for its finesse in implementing laws, nor are the pigs gonna back down from enforcing their future retirement plans. dont get your hopes up

You don’t have even the slightest clue about what you are asserting. 
Show us an article where he asserted that the THC content of the flower buds should not be over 0.2%. You shouldn’t be debating if your knowledge of the subject is so poor. 

[NextG]

5 minutes ago, Pouatchee said:

 

small minded pug always picking a fight... i pray you are not allowed to teach... read above info is there... numbskull

 

ABCDBKK already put you right on that.  😊

EXTRACTS, not the flowers and leaves. 

The stupid is strong in this one…

Seems you haven’t had your toke for the morning. Anger brimming up inside of you, Mr Keyboard Warrior. 😊

Edited January 23 by NextG

[Rimmer]

A personal attack and replies have been removed

[ABCDBKK]

7 hours ago, NedR69 said:

It's the loss of revenue that will cause Thailand to continue with the current.  It ain't going to change, maybe something stupid, but it won't be any different than it is now.

You mean same, same, but different? 😉

[khunpeer]

On 1/22/2024 at 1:52 PM, ABCDBKK said:

If Thailand is really going to flip-flop on the law (after already delisting cannabis as an illegal narcotic) and eventually start fining and jailing people for recreational use, especially tourists, then they are going to find themselves awkwardly bucking the growing trend in Western countries where decriminalizing of cannabis for recreational use continues to grow. 
 

Even Germany, seen as a relatively conservative country, is likely to legalize cannabis for recreational use within this year: 

 

https://www.dw.com/en/german-minister-aims-for-cannabis-legalization-by-spring/a-68042155

 

In addition to the 23 states in the US that have already legalized cannabis for recreational use (including Washington DC), 8 more are also expected to legalize it within this year. 
 

If Thailand does end up making serious changes to the current laws then the blowback and lawsuits against the government from both growers and retailers losing income (those who invested based on previous government promises) could be sizable. I can see a situation where some ambiguous changes are eventually made to the laws to try and reduce recreational use and then everything gets backpedalled again a year later to exactly the way things are right now. 

I guess yr prayers have been heard: today in Thaiger!

https://thethaiger.com/guides/cannabis/thailand-cannabis-guide/is-cannabis-legal-for-foreigners-in-thailand-know-the-rules

[Bday Prang]

On 1/22/2024 at 2:35 PM, Hokeus said:

The other and more concerning gray area is, even if you have a medical certificate permitting medical use, and you are using cannabis to relax, improve mood, or reduce anxiety, the authorities could still accuse someone and fine/jail them for recreational use on the basis that they are still getting some enjoyment from the use of the cannabis. So it can become a subjective issue. 

                 I'm sure what you have written has its foundations in fact.   Some of the anti cannabis brigade on here do actually seem to have mellowed in their opinions regarding the devils lettuce. and whilst common sense has prevailed with many not demanding an outright ban anymore, or even  the death penalty for possession,  they are still  unable to accept  the idea of people just enjoying it for its own sake,  so they have now  been reduced to whinging on and on about medical use as opposed to recreational use. 

                 To me there is nothing more pathetic than the,  "  I don't like people smoking it, but its ok if a doctor says so, however under no circumstances must you enjoy it " attitude that is now emerging

                   I can just imagine the following , scenario based on what you outlined above.    "A terminally ill cancer patient legally ingesting cannabis to alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy was today fined 60,000 baht and sentenced to six months in prison due to a concerned netizen who reported seeing him smiling as he dozed off one afternoon. In summing up the judge said he could not tolerate instances like this and whilst sympathetic to the plight of the defendant anything less than a custodial sentence would send out the wrong signals"

                   Wasn't there / isn't there some puritanical religious movement, perhaps a break away catholic sect, that insists,  that sex should only be for procreation purposes, never for the  pleasure of either participant, and has issued "guidelines" to achieve that ideology ?     Both schools of thought and those responsible for advocating such rubbish, deserve sending back to the dark ages where they truly belong . 

                    Its taken nigh on 100 years for many of even the most  educated of people to overcome the reefer madness propaganda that's responsible for starting this incredibly sad state of affairs and that has seen people incarcerated and lives ruined. The country that started it all (USA) has all but changed its mind   A completely open and free approach is now the only thing that people should be prepared to accept, Its happening all over the world at last, and the few  who wish to impose their ridiculous and outdated views on everybody for whatever reason,  should not be pandered to anymore

                    Impose an age limit, (done)  educate truthfully  as to the potential side effects, ("sort of done")  and restrict public nuisance (done)  nothing else is required or wanted.  As regards driving a vehicle speaking from personal experience I don't see a problem , but if the powers that be can't accept that, then lets have some proper research and not just a cut and paste from the existing  drink driving legislation.  alcohol and cannabis are two completely different substances with completely different effects and need to be treated as such

                   And finally whilst I'm on a roll how about banning the urine and hair follicle tests for non psychoactive metabolites of THC . It serves no purpose to be able to detect 1 nanogram or impose a 20 nanogram limit of a non intoxicating substance  which can be detected upto 90 days after someone has smoked a joint, its an  irrelevant and intrusive scrutiny of lifestyle  nothing else.      Rant over  time to skin up,  

[stoner]

32 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

Its taken nigh on 100 years for many of even the most  educated of people to overcome the reefer madness propaganda that's responsible for starting this incredibly sad state of affairs and that has seen people incarcerated and lives ruined. The country that started it all (USA) has all but changed its mind   A completely open and free approach is now the only thing that people should be prepared to accept, Its happening all over the world at last, and the few  who wish to impose their ridiculous and outdated views on everybody for whatever reason,  should not be pandered to anymore

 

this about sums it all up in a nice neat paragraph. :)

[kingstonkid]

On 1/22/2024 at 3:17 PM, Pouatchee said:

 

anutin has insiste from the beginning that the thc content should not be over 0.2% and that it should not be used for recreational purposes. i am very pro weed, but the thai gvt isnt known for its finesse in implementing laws, nor are the pigs gonna back down from enforcing their future retirement plans. dont get your hopes up

Anutin is on his way out with the BJT  He is no longer really effective.

 

What is going to happen is that shops will be regulated and licenced.  Doctors prescribing/writing scripts are going to have to have some sort to licence (LOL).

 

Only shops that have licences are going to be allowed to sell.  

 

Locations of shops will be restricted.

 

Only licenced people will be allowed to grow.

 

Just like alcohol, the sale to people under age will be forbidden.

 

The main thing that they are going to want to do is to ensure that people on street corners are no more.  That kids are not in harm's way and that people that do not need it do not get it.  

 

As to stores closing, I think that that is a given, and most people that opened stores since the law passed knew that it was a crap shoot.

 

Wonderland in NANA is probably the smartest one in that they opened a medical office in a separate location.

 

 

[Bday Prang]

6 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

As to stores closing, I think that that is a given, and most people that opened stores since the law passed knew that it was a crap shoot.

              The stores thing is Typically Thai,  There are many streets with shops all selling the same things next door to each other,  In Bangkok there was the Pantip Plaza with hundreds of stalls selling the same computer Junk,  Khonkaen had a similar one. At one end of Khao San road if you turned left there was only wedding dress shops, and who could forget the plethora of mobile phone stalls in the basements of just about every Plaza in the country,  for some reason its what they do, fear of missing out or fear of being different, 

               its just the way they are here. Our local market was awash with cannabis plants, bongs, and 100bt bags of weed for sale , all looked at in disgust and horror by a small audience of tut tutting elderly farangs  as they got pissed out of their heads in there regular watering hole whilst their long suffering wives did a bit of shopping. There is just one stall now run by a 50 year old Thai Rasta with the most impressive and cleanest set of dreadlocks I have ever seen, nice guy seems to do OK and isn't overly concerned about any impending regulations. 

                Whatever happens market forces will ultimately sort things out

                 No offence but i found the rest of your post a bit depressing , you could have softened it a bit by starting off with "in my opinion"   now I'm on a downer, 

 

[sumaterani]

Hi everyone, I'm new here, Thailand has been my favourite destination for past year since I'm a cannabis tourist ... yeah I only travel abroad for cannabis. 

 

Does anyone know when the new anti-recreation law will be implemented? I have just reduce my vacation tickets plan from 2 months to 1 week stay, just in case things don't go in my favor anymore, I still love the beaches though 

[GammaGlobulin]

I very much welcome ....

The Flop!

 

Stay sober.

Stay happy.

Remain clear-headed, you heads...

Every moment of the day!

 

[Bday Prang]

3 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

I very much welcome ....

The Flop!

 

Stay sober.

Stay happy.

Remain clear-headed, you heads...

Every moment of the day!

 

I never  for a moment suspected you as somebody who would seek to interfere in other peoples lives in an intrusive manner. I thought you might be above that sort of thing, a live and let live type concerned more with observational comments. Was I wrong?  

[Bday Prang]

On 1/22/2024 at 3:17 PM, Pouatchee said:

 

anutin has insiste from the beginning that the thc content should not be over 0.2% and that it should not be used for recreational purposes. i am very pro weed, but the thai gvt isnt known for its finesse in implementing laws, nor are the pigs gonna back down from enforcing their future retirement plans. dont get your hopes up

Another  "but Anutin said"  or in this case "insisted" comment, What he may or may not have said is frankly irrelevant,  and anyway it was actually products or extracts thereof that were to be restricted to 0.2%.  People would be well advised to see how the police interpret what Anutin may have said,  and to open their eyes and look at the reality, rather than heed the protestations of a few on this forum, Its patently obvious that for the past 2 years nobody else has given a toss what Anutin may have insisted

[Bday Prang]

26 minutes ago, sumaterani said:

Hi everyone, I'm new here, Thailand has been my favourite destination for past year since I'm a cannabis tourist ... yeah I only travel abroad for cannabis. 

 

Does anyone know when the new anti-recreation law will be implemented? I have just reduce my vacation tickets plan from 2 months to 1 week stay, just in case things don't go in my favor anymore, I still love the beaches though 

   Nobody knows anything yet,  Just out of interest Where are you from?  and when was your planned vacation here?   

[JackGats]

I'm not interested in getting a doctor's prescription for some CBD oil. If that's what legal cannabis in Thailand is heading to, that's the end of legal cannabis in Thailand as far as I'm concerned.

[HugoFastor]

1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said:

I very much welcome ....

The Flop!

 

Stay sober.

Stay happy.

Remain clear-headed, you heads...

Every moment of the day!

 

There is never any shortage of non-users who needlessly spew misguided assumptions. 
 

For many people, THC makes their thoughts clearer, happier and more positive, improves their quality of life, and it helps them in ways that many other substances never can.